Growing ties tops forum's agenda

TOKYO: The resignation of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will not affect the promotion of Sino-Japanese relations, a minister with the Japanese government said yesterday.

"I firmly believe the newly elected leaders will lead Japan to further promote our relations with China," Hiroya Masuda, minister of internal affairs and communications, said at a welcoming ceremony at the start of the fourth Tokyo-Beijing Forum.

The meeting, which opens today, will involve dialogue between the two neighbors at the highest level, and comes in the wake of the changes to the Japanese government.